What, in All This World of Wonder

It's the time of year we need to take a closer look at the toys and reinvent them a bit

so we took everyone we could find on a trip to the farm and the zoo!

Today's chuckle: as I ran my fingers through Little Girl's curls 

I told her how lucky she is to have such beautiful curls! 

she sighed and replied, 'they're going gray'... 😂

 Life gives all of us seasons where we sometimes have 

to take a closer look at what we see every day to refurbish our thankfulness and wonder,

and there is nothing like loss to remind us of what we have!

What in all this world of wonder

 will we recognize today

Dawn delights us with pink thunder

soon by blue skies breathed away

What will spawn a sudden solace

as we look with eyes and heart

Where nature’s four-season showcase

is like a book of fine art

What will stir our souls with gladness

in the middle of love’s fuss

What in all this world of madness

will still thrill and humble us

What will wake us to the onus

of momentous moment-sum

While we are still in the process

of the life they will become

What will render longing speechless

as we witness God first-hand

Where the spender of days reaches

to the Lender in command

What will make us far more grateful

in a world of hate and greed

Where a multitude of people

prove we are creatures of need

God, without hearts of thanksgiving

nothing else will be enough

We will miss the joy of living

in the fullness of Your love

Where, in all this world of beauty

as far as the eye can see

We are surely to be pitied

if we miss Your Majesty

© Janet Martin

Psalm 136:4
He alone does great wonders. His loving devotion endures forever.
 

A Whatty-what?!!

"You have options", I explained to Matt when he asked what's for supper.

 

"You can do your meal in a wrap or a power-plate. 

"A whatty-what?! he asked looking confused (justifiably) 

"Well, you know how some restaurants have power-bowls on the menu...

its like that but we're using plates!"

I chose the plate option, he chose the wraps.

Tonight's supper was inspired by a picture of a power-bowl 

and the sudden remembrance that it's Thursday and 4:00 

and I don't have anything planned for supper!

So with the help of some veggies in the fridge 

and the power-bowl ad from Red Lobster

this happened...

 Thinly sliced/chopped veggies (rutabagas, cabbage, carrots, broccoli, red onion)

light drizzle of olive oil, sprinkle of kosher salt (optional) and freshly-ground black pepper...

steam till tender...

For the power plate I topped a huge serving of veggies with black beans,
 browned ground beef seasoned to taste (I used salt and taco seasoning)

 (instead of shrimp, like the Red Lobster picture;-)

and a light garnish of shredded old cheddar and goat cheese.

Some things I wished I had on hand to add; chick peas, red pepper and quinoa!

That would have made it perfect!

Sometimes summer almost seems to spill through winter’s whitewashed gates

Catch of August through October thrilling, filling supper plates

Making us feel like the gardens are not sleeping after all

While the chill wind shakes the ramparts from which star-shaped flowers fall

Sometimes we are humbly honoured because we have eyes to see

...see where beauty spills its colours in a world of artistry

And that we can smell and taste and hear, what marvels are these things

Suddenly a simple supper seems a favour fit for kings

…now the culinary artist dons a sort of sacred air

 Peeling, slicing, dicing, stirring turns into a tender prayer

Where the perfect words escape us so we praise Him while we cook

Thanking God for bount’ous blessings we too often overlook

Sometimes, when we lose sight of love's countless, somewhat common range
It is time to look longer at what is apt and bound to change
Then as we begin to ponder Mercy and wonder's buffet
Suddenly, something like supper feels like a fine holiday

© Janet Martin

Two gorgeous versions of the doxology...
a great blessing before a meal hymn
but also a great any time of day tune
to the One who, each day grants mercy renewed
behooving us to serve Him with a heart of gratitude!

Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.
Psalm 107:1


Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.
Psalm 136:1


Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.
Psalm 118:1

Daily Duel of Dreamer and Duty...What Will It Be?!

Duty and Dreamer seem to clash on a regular basis, as soon as feet hit the floor...

What will it be she sighs as she eyes an empty page 

then turns to heed cries of Master Laundry, Major Lunch-box, Sergeant Fire-starting etc...

Before Sweetest of all Sweet Little Girl arrives...

When the day gleams like a page poem-heady

Star-studded tarp falls from tresses, blue-pink

Unveiling worlds slumber revived and ready

Propped like a bottomless well filled with ink

Fueling duels twixt Dreamer and Duty

Teasing the rivals of prudence and art

Blurring intention where unhurried beauty

Tangles the tether twixt hands, head and heart

What will it be, Duty cries, demand-driven

Seizing the tool that fits her for the fight

What will it be, sighs the Dreamer, star-smitten

Grasping at shimmers of shadow and light

What will become the sum of today’s tally

Will it be to-do lists tackled and checked

Will it be sparkles that glimmer and sally

Snared from the air where whispers intersect

What will be left when dusk gathers its plunder

Who will be victor of soon-to-be spoils

Will page be filled with the thrill of sheer wonder

Or smudged with tokens of love’s urgent toils

What will remain to retain strains of beauty

Felled by the faithful fellow, Father Time

Will the souvenirs of both Dreamer and Duty

Tenderly tangle in keepsakes of rhyme

© Janet Martin

 ...on that note it's off to the races graces!

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, 

do it all for the glory of God.

1 Cor.10:13

Heart of a Woman, Oops, I Mean Parts of a Poem...

Pressed like the petals of last summer’s pansies

Tucked between pages soft-weathered with wear

Lost to the world like a young woman’s fancies

Learning to grapple with fortunes of air

Touching her where she can never quite quell it

Rushing through her like an ocean, salt-starred

Parts of a poem too tender to tell it

Left to the hunger of some younger bard

Almost she hears the blue twilight come stealing

Snuffing the shadows that clung to the hill

Something akin to distant church-bells pealing

Tugs at heartstrings that her hand cannot still

Virile vibrato of fight and submission

Trembles in tempos of over-and-done

Melodies played by a master musician

Lyrics unwritten yet second to none

Time is a ticket to holes in her pockets

Places worn through that no seamstress can mend

Life lends her pictures to tender to lockets

Lost while she had other treasures to tend

Merchant of moments, sweet-dealing untwists her

Barter she must with a foe born to win

While she is learning to turn seasoned whispers

Into a poem that plays ‘neath her skin

© Janet Martin

Enough Is The Stuff That Today Is Made Of...

 When confronted with gloomy forecasts for the future,

what should we do?!

We are not made to carry Maybe’s cares

Waiting to undo its When

Enough is the stuff that today is made of

Let’s leave tomorrow till then

Enough is the trouble today seems to find

Without adding extra stress

Let’s concentrate on what can no longer wait

Today’s almost-happiness

We are not made to bear fear's promenade

Down streets our feet cannot reach

But through prayer-shaped hope we'll be able to cope

With what today has to teach

© Janet Martin

 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, 

for tomorrow will worry about itself.

 Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Matt.6:34

Lyrics for this hymn...

Dark and stormy is the desert, 

Through which pilgrims make their way; 

Yet beyond this vale of sorrows 

Lie the fields of endless day.

 O, young soldier, are you weary 

Of the roughness of the way? 

Does your strength begin to fail you, 

And your vigor to decay? 

Jesus, Jesus, will go with you, 

He will lead you to his throne; 

He whose thunder shakes creation,

 He who bids the planets roll.

 'Round him are ten thousand angels, 

Ready to obey command; 

They'll all be there to hover round you, 

Till you reach the heavenly land.

There, on flowery hills of pleasure, 

Lie the fields of endless rest,

 Love, and joy, and peace forever, 

Reign and triumph in your breast.